The Role of Organizational Culture Student Learning, Success, and Completion Panelists

1. The Role of Organizational Culture Student Learning, Success, and Completion Panelists Madeline Pumariega, Miami Dade College,Wolfson Campus Mary Ellen O’Keeffe, North Seattle Community College William Raffetto, San Jacinto College Moderator Noreen Thomas, Ferris State University

2. “It is not enough, however, to create and support a wide variety of innovations. Almost all community colleges support innovative practices, but in most cases champions of innovation work in isolation from each other. In most community colleges there are many islands of innovation, each struggling to make a dent in the overall scheme of things.

3. If substantive and broad-based change is to occur in the institution, leaders need to corral these innovators into a common force and focus their energy and common interest on the larger picture— which is to double the number of students who complete certificates and degrees.” Terry O’Banion

4. Questions • How are we connecting Learningto Completionat our colleges? • What is the interrelationship between Student Success andOrganizational Culture?

5. Conversation Are our colleges ready to foster a supportive culture, or can the completion agenda prompt the change in organizational culture?

6. Change and the Completion Agenda • Challenges per Terry O’Banion • Create and value a critical perspective • Common vocabulary • Overwhelmed by how to articulate the framework • Faculty confidence in academic leaders • Effort to maintain old and new structures • Competence to sustain the change • Establish new communication patterns and mixes • Money solves all problems • Leadership continuity—presence and message

7. Change and the Completion Agenda • Change Opportunities per Terry O’Banion • Recognition for the need to change • Staff members create momentum w/ the leader • Faculty, at their core, want to be good teachers • Commitment to teaching at community colleges • Effective techniques of serving the underprepared • Engage non-teaching staff and unleash their power • Corral the efforts/philosophy of college innovators • Expand technology to better engage trained staff

8. Definition of Diversity The concept of diversity encompasses acceptance and respect. It means understanding that each individual is unique, and recognizing our individual differences. These can be along the dimensions of race, ethnicity, gender, sexual orientation, socio-economic status, age, physical abilities, religious beliefs, political beliefs, or other ideologies. It is the exploration of these differences in a safe, positive, and nurturing environment. It is about understanding each other and moving beyond simple tolerance to embracing and celebrating the rich dimensions of diversity contained within each individual.

9. IMPORTANCE OF DIVERSITY • Diversity enriches the educational experience • Diversity promotes personal growth • Diversity strengthens communities and the workplace • Diversity enhances America’s economic competitiveness

10. How do students of color experience your institution? • How do returning Veterans experience your institution? • How do students with physical challenges experience your institution? • How do older students experience your institution? • How do students with financial challenges experience your institution?

11. KEY COMPONENTS OF DIVERSITY • Climate • Curriculum • Faculty-Student Interaction • Student-Student Interaction “Diversity is not truly attained without the forming of relationships.”

12. Culture Shift Based on Valencia’s experience • Anyone can learn anything under the right conditions • Start right • Connection and direction • The College is how the students experience us, not how we experience them • The purpose of assessment is to improve learning • Collaboration Taken from Focus on Learning: A Learning College Reader. Terry O Banion and Cynthia D. Wilson, Editors

13. Thank You for Participating And Enjoy the Journey